How to Date Old Chairs

Close inspection reveals clues that help determine a chair's age.

Chairs as we know them have been around since at least the 1700s. Before that, the chair was essentially a stool with a back, and only the head of the house or the upper echelon of society sat in them. Others sat on stools and benches. The chair has evolved greatly since that time, with numerous styles and materials from which to choose. Determining the age of a chair is sometimes as simple as finding maker's marks underneath; other times, a good deal of research is required, especially since some popular chair styles have been reproduced for generations.

Tags and Stamps

One of the greatest telltale signs of a chair's age include the markings or tags left by the manufacturer. Modern upholstered chairs may feature a tag listing both manufacturer and serial number or design name, which can be looked up on the manufacturer's website or on collector websites. Mass-produced chairs from the 19th century to modern times are often stamped with a manufacturer's mark. In the 1800s, this stamp was often placed under the seat or inside a back leg.

Upholstered Seat Filling

Sometime during the 18th century, chair makers decided that fluffy armchairs would be more comfortable than the bench-style seats that had been in fashion up to that time. Early armchairs often had loose seat cushions stuffed with feathers. After the 1830s, cushion designed advanced a bit and included springs, padding and webbing. In the 1900s, synthetic materials such as upholstery foam and fiberfill entered the scene. Identifying the material stuffed into seat cushions helps identify a chair's age, but it's possible a chair was revamped somewhere along the way, with the original seat padding exchanged for updated fillers.

Style

Sometimes style is enough to tell how old a chair is, especially if that style was only popular for a short time. For example, an olive green recliner with yellow or orange flowers is most likely from the late 1960s to 1970s, as that type of print and color combination hasn't come back into fashion -- yet. Likewise, mid-century molded fiberglass chairs -- popularized by Charles and Ray Eames paired with manufacturer Herman Miller -- still influence plastic chair design, yet are distinguishable by their thin metal legs and noticeable fiberglass fibers. Look at images of chairs similar to yours online if you are unsure when your chair was manufactured. After finding a few, you'll likely be able to narrow down the general era the chair was made.

Reproductions

Antique furniture styles are still in use today and many reproductions exist. If you are unsure whether the chair is a reproduction or original, look for signs of age or newness. For example, a chair that is supposedly original, unrefinished and from the 1800s should not smell like fresh varnish or upholstery. Study the construction. For example, if the joints don't match up and the piece looks shoddily assembled, it's most likely a reproduction. Phillips screws shouldn't be anywhere on the chair if it is truly old as these have been around only since the 1930s.

About the Author

Kathy Adams won several investigative journalism awards from the Associated Press. Adams has ghostwritten several books and content for A-list musicians' websites. She is equally at home repurposing furniture and found objects into art as she is managing bands and community gardening efforts, running non-profit organizations and writing about healthy alternatives to household chemicals.